Lanuginosus
/lan-yoo-jih-NOH-sus/🏷️ Taxonomy●●● Advanced
Also known as: lanuginosa, lanuginosum
A texture epithet describing a surface covered in very soft, fine, cottony hairs — lighter and fluffier than the matted wool of tomentosus, more like the down of a newborn animal. It implies a delicate, soft-to-the-touch texture. Appears as lanuginosus (masculine), lanuginosa (feminine), or lanuginosum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin lanugo/lanuginis (soft hair, down, wool) + -osus (full of), from lana (wool).
Example
“Verbascum lanuginosum and Potentilla lanuginosa both have the delicate, cotton-soft surface texture that distinguishes this lighter form of hairiness from the denser tomentosus.”